The benefits of small talk go beyond what we might’ve originally thought; labelled as weak ties” by sociologists, small talk is shown to overall make life more enjoyable. Whether it be improving your metro journey by chatting to a stranger, telling the Greggs worker to “have a lovely day” or simply chatting about the weather with a stranger in your lecture can really help your overall mood- these mini-moments help install snippets of happiness through your day.
...these mini-moments help install snippets of happiness through your day.
Growing up very much still in the north, in the uniqueness that is Middlesbrough itself, small talk with strangers was still common, but not nearly as much as here in Newcastle. The atmosphere in the heart of Boro may feel just slightly different- ask any Geordie, and they would gladly tell you so. And while a conversation with a Geordie may begin with a “Y’reet pet-lamb”, and end with an invitation to a family barbecue, a ‘smoggie’ interaction might reflect something more of a cautious nod, perhaps a “y’alright like”. Either way, perhaps it’s the Geordie tone that just makes everything seem friendlier, a certain sparkle carried through their rising intonation that makes me feel as though I could share all my secrets with this random cashier.
...a certain sparkle carried through their rising intonation that makes me feel as though I could share all my secrets with this random cashier
Now, don’t get me wrong, this article is far from an invitation to start a conversation with a random person walking down Northumberland Street, that might be the opposite of what we’ve all grown up being taught; please don’t speak to strangers on account of reading this. Yet, if you did find yourself unsociably chatty, odds are, you might just get a friendly reply, as it's evident that Newcastle’s love of small talk is anything but small- it's essential.